Vladkimir
Located in the north, Vladkimir is a large nation defined by a history of tragedy and violence. The nation struggles to recover from a brutal civil war and demonic invasion.
Culture
Many Vladkimirans have a dour, apathetic, and fatalistic disposition as a result of the many years of war. While the long-awaited peace has come, there is still a general lack of hope for the future of the country.
History
Mythic Era: The lands which now make up Vladkimir were originally colonized by the Elven Mithral Empire and Dwarven Hjalgrim Kingdom. There were scattered conflicts between the Elves and Dwarves, but the land of Vladkimir was never a prized possession in either crown.
Heroic Era: As the Mythic Era ended and the Empires of Elves and Dwarves receded, human settlers of Skjoldr descent built settlements in the area. The Skjoldr towns were located in the northern reaches of the country with relatively low population. The region became known as the Nordlansk.
Later in the Heroic Era, Lurian settlers took the best lands in the south for the Lurian Empire, where the mighty Koya River allowed for bountiful grain harvest. The colonial capitol, Chionopolis, was established at the mouth of the Koya river and became the major trading port for the area. A feudal system quickly grew, with the noble Boyars overseeing the nation.
The War of the Eagles brought about the end of the Lurian Empire, with Vladkimir and other colonies rising against the Empire. Among the rebels was a Boyar named Barov Von Zarovich, who took the colonial capital of Chionopolis.
Modern Era: In the aftermath of the War of the Eagles, a series of warlords fought for control of the country during the Unification Wars from 5943 to 5963. King Barov, and his son, Strahd von Zarovich, united the nation through bloody conquest. Strahd built a new county in the far east of the nation, naming it Barovia. The victory of the family was soon marked by tragedy. First, King Barov died. Then, Prince Strahd, his brother Prince Sergei, and many nobles and generals disappeared not long after. The Von Zaroviches were soon forgotten in the mists of history.
A power vacuum threatened to send the country into civil war again following the disappearance of its rulers. Konstanta the Great seized control of the country in 5963, declaring a new philosophy which rejected the old systems of monarchy, nobility, and organized religion. He renamed the capitol Konstantagrad after himself and undertook a major construction project in the capitol, rebuilding it entirely. Followers of Konstanta orchestrated a series of People's Tribunals, executing the remaining nobles and supporters of the previous regime. Several centuries passed under the Konstantan system, but the government became more and more corrupt with each passing generation, leading to unrest and rebellion.
The Civil War: Finally, the Vladkimiran Civil War split the nation in two in 6476. The war raged between the Centralist forces and the Konstantan armies. The Centralists, led by Commander Nadya Kertosink, were based in Konstantagrad and aimed to restore order to the country, no matter the cost. Their forces included the mighty Nikifor, merciless and ferocious heavy infantry who dominated decisive battles. The Konstantans called for a return to traditional Konstantan values, but were plagued by the corruption of the past system. They engaged in a campaign of hit and run attacks and ambushes. The brutal war continued for thirty years.
In 6505, the Atathian Empire intervened on the side of the Centralists, deploying the Legio XXI under the command of Legatus Ahenobarbus, descendant of Saint Ahenobarbus. The Legions and Centralists quickly won the decisive Battle of Kala against the Konstantan defenders and captured the town.
During the Civil War, a demonic champion by the name of Sasha built a dark army. Sasha was the daughter of the abusive and corrupt mayor of the village Sebilsk, who channeled her rage and pain into fury and fire. Sasha plagued the town of Cherepovets in 6505, then united several tribes of centaurs who worshipped Kirbarir. She activated a number of unholy sites across Vladkimir and summoned a demonic army in 6506. Crowning herself the Demon Queen, Sasha destroyed large swathes of the country. During her campaign of destruction, she was opposed by a group of adventurers.
Meanwhile, it is rumored that the lost Prince Strahd von Zarovich, now a vampire lord in the lost realm of Barovia, attempted to marry his reincarnated bride and return to Vladkimir. However, during his wedding, he was slain by a group of unlikely heroes. In the fight, multiple dark gods, Dendar and Ochniyye Palochki, are said to have escaped their prison in Mount Ghakis. The full truth of these events are not commonly known by the public.
The Demon Queen Sasha was drawn to Barovia and Mount Ghakis in the aftermath, and attempted to access a temple prison beneath the mountain. She finally slain at the Battle of Mount Ghakis in 6506, facing a combined force of Atathian legionnaires and Vladkimiran soldiers. It is rumored that the Atathians reinforced the temple defences at Mount Ghakis after the battle.
Post-War: The losses of the War were great and entire swathes of the nation were destroyed. Rebuilding has been difficult. Many lives were lost and infrastructure was severely damaged outside of the core regions near the capitol.
Commander Nadya Kertosink currently controls the country, but everyone knows that the Atathian Empire holds the real power. Legion forces maintain a garrison within the nation and opportunistic Atathian merchants gain the best deals. To their credit, the Atathians have reconstructed roads, bridges, and other key infrastructure in the interior of Vladkimir, although cynics note that these investments benefit Atathian commerce and military operations first and foremost.
Many former Vladkimiran soldiers have tried to find work outside of the country, either as condotierri mercenaries in the Trading Coalition or as auxilia for the Atathians.
Demography and Population
The population of Vladkimir is currently approximately 3,500,000 people. The nation's population reached a high of 7,000,000 prior to the Vladkimiran Civil War, but half of the population died in the destruction that followed.
The primary inhabitants of Vladkimir are humans. Many are of Lurian descent, but there are significant minorities of Skjoldr, especially in the Nordlansk, as well as the Vistani. More recently, Atathians have migrated to the area as soldiers and merchants. Dwarves, Elves, Halflings, and Tieflings can also be encountered within the nation in limited numbers.
In the northern Gratsk Swamp, bugbears are common. They are not considered to be citizens of Vladkimir, and many Vladkimiran parents warn their children with stories of the bugbears. The nomadic centaurs of the steppes often raid the south and east of the nation.
Territories
Notable Vladkimiran cities and towns include:
- Konstantagrad, the capitol and major trading port
- Kala, the provincial capitol of Cherepovets
- Sebilsk, a small village and birthplace of the Demon Queen
- Seriv, a river trade city, still under reconstruction after the War
- Vallaki, the largest town in the province of Barovia
Notable regions include:
- Barovia: Barovia was lost for many centuries, a legendary land of cursed mists. It was reconnected to Vladkimir at the end of the Civil War.
- Cherepovets: Cherepovets is located in center of the country, along the upper Yorusk River. Cherepovets was the site of some of the final events of the Vladkimiran Civil War.
- Gratsk Swamp: The Gratsk Swamp lies in the northwest of the country. It is largely impassable - trade and travellers must go around either by sea or trecherous land routes. The Swamp is primarily inhabited by bugbears.
- Karinsk: Karinsk is the most densely populated region of the nation, along the coasts. Konstantagrad is located in Karinsk.
- Loriv: Located in the east of the country, alongside the mountains and the upper Koya River. Loriv was heavily damaged during the war.
- the Nordlansk: Located in the northern reaches of Vladkimir, the Nordlansk is primarily inhabited by Skjoldr.
Religion
Historically, Absyun was worshipped as the primary god of the Lurian colonists, and his worship continued through the reigns of the Von Zarovich families. The Church of Absyun was closely knit with the ruling nobility during this time. When Konstanta the Great disbanded the monarchy and nobility, he also disbanded the organized church. Worship of Absyun continued in informal and often underground settings.
With the end of the Vladkimiran Civil War, religious fervor has increased, both from the influence of the pious Atathians and the realities of the invasion of the Demon Queen. Churches of Absyun have been re-established in many major cities, often with Atathian sponsors and missionaries.
Rumors of cults of Kirbarir persist, especially in the south and east of the nation.
Older druidic faiths persist in remote areas, particularly in the Nordlansk, where the Skjoldr of the Nordlansk worship Absyun alongside the pantheon of nature deities.
Agriculture & Industry
Vladkimir is known for its bountiful harvests of wheat and other grains, including barley, rye, and potatoes. Much of the farmland lies along the major rivers, the Koya and Yorusk. The eastern mountains are known for significant resources of ore. Lumber and other forest products are also readily available.
Founding Date
5943
Type
Geopolitical, Country
Capital
Demonym
Vladkimiran
Government System
Dictatorship
Power Structure
Client state / puppet state
Economic System
Mixed economy
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
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